asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, pursuant to the answer by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Dubs) on 15 May, Official Report, column 140, he will list the ways in which savings can be made, without detriment to education services in the area of the Inner London education authority, with his estimate of the approximate annual saving for each respective method.

It is for local authorities to draw up their budgets and it would not be appropriate for the Government to specify particular savings which should be made. In examining their costs, and areas of potential savings, local authorities might reasonably have regard to comparisons with the costs of other authorities. For example, the ILEA's charge for school meals is now the lowest in the country. Its charges for adult education are scarcely more than half the average. Its administration costs per pupil or student are more than twice the average. It employs more than twice as many non-teaching staff in schools, relative to pupil numbers, as the average. It spends almost one and a half times the average per pupil on fuel and light.The ILEA's budget for 1984–85 shows an increase of 7·5 per cent. over 1983–84. This is markedly greater than the percentage increase in expenditure on education by all authorities in aggregate between 1983–84 and 1984–85. It must be for the authority to examine its costs critically in the light of such facts as these.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will estimate the number of students who spend more than £110 a year on travelling expenses.

The information necessary to make an estimate of this kind is not available centrally.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider the introduction of an outgoers scheme for dairy farmers following the recent EEC price agreements.

[pursuant to the reply, 14 May 1984, c. 56]: I recognise that the introduction of the supplementary levy scheme presents special difficulties to small producers, particularly those who have no alternative to milk and who have little scope to adapt their dairy enterprises to a lower level of production under the quota scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the Government's immediate intentions and ambitions for British agriculture.

We will maintain our policy of providing conditions in which a prosperous industry can continue to thrive and develop and thereby make a positive contribution to the nation's economy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries, and Food what was the outcome of the Council of Fisheries Ministers' meeting held on Thursday 24 May; and if he will make a statement.

Together with my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland I represented the United Kingdom at the Fisheries Council meeting in Brussels yesterday. The outcome of the Council was satisfactory from the United Kingdom point of view.The Council decided, in the light of the scientific advice and the state of discussions with Norway, to extend provisional quotas for the member states for North sea herring up to a total quantity of 155,000 tonnes to be taken in the Community's zone in 1984. The United Kingdom quota will be 35,720 tonnes in accordance with the allocation formula agreed last December. This arrangement is intended not to prejudice in any way the continuing negotiations with Norway over the total allowable catch for the North sea as a whole for 1984 and the respective Community and Norwegian allocations.At our request, the Council agreed to increase the United Kingdom quota for monkfish from 5,500 tonnes to 7,000 tonnes in the light of the revision of our previous catch statistics; the Commission will submit proposals as soon as possible on the TACs for plaice in the Bristol channel and Irish sea herring (Man stock) in the light of the scientific advice. This should lead to welcome increases in our quotas for these stocks.After discussing the Commission's proposals for changes in the regulation on technical conservation measures, the Council decided, in the light of the latest available information, to postpone the increase in the whitefish mesh size in the North sea to 90mm until 1 January 1987. Decisions on possible derogations for certain species will be taken by 31 December 1985. This decision is a realistic one in present circumstances and will be welcomed by the United Kingdom industry as a whole.On beam trawling within 12 miles of coasts, on which there has been considerable concern on the part of our inshore fishermen, I argued that the Commission's proposals were not strong enough, and it was agreed to give further consideration to the possibility of new restrictions, such as beam length or vessel length.I resisted strong Danish pressure for Council agreement to the Commission's proposal for a relaxation of the by-catch limits on the Norway pout fishery. The Council set a deadline of 15 September for a decision on this question and on the proposed revised catch limits for North sea sprat, taking account of the difficulties encountered by Danish fishermen. This does not commit us to any specific changes in the existing rules. The Commission's other proposals on technical conservation will be the subject of further study with a view to early decisions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the value to the United Kingdom consumer of butter-subsidies in each of the past four years.

The total value to the United Kingdom consumer of subsidies and price and levy reductions on butter in each of the past four years is as follows:

Year	Value
	£ million
1980	106
1981	85
1982	101
1983	119

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what, in percentage terms, is the level of butter subsidy in the European Community market; and what is the level of subsidy for butter subsidised by the European Economic Community in the world market.

Various subsidies and price reductions apply to butter sold within the European Community as shown in the table.

Butter subsidy scheme	Maximum aid or price reductions ecu/100 kg	Aid or price reduction as a percentage of the intervention price*
General consumer subsidy	12·75	3·9
Butter sold to non-profit making organisations	157·0	49·1
Butter sold to Armed Forces	157·0	49·1
Concentrated butter sold for cooking	152·0	47·5
Butter for pastry manufacture	218·7	64·0
Butter for ice cream manufacture	133·7	37·4
Butter sold to persons receiving social assistance	80·0	25·0
* Intervention price for 82 per cent, fat butter = 319·7 ecu/100 kg.

The current refund on butter exported from the Community to third countries is 125·23 ecu/100 kg, equivalent to approximately 39 per cent. of the butter intervention price.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the total amount of butter consumed within the European Community is subsidised by the European Economic Community.

In 1983 subsidies and price and levy reductions were granted in respect of 584,600 tonnes of butter. This represents 37 per cent. of estimated consumption in the Community in that year.

asked the Prime Minister if she will publish in full the Pearce report on United Kingdom atomic weapon tests in Maralinga.

Arrangements are being made to place a copy of the full 1968 Pearce report in the Libraries of both Houses.

asked the Prime Minister whether the references to (a) value added tax on hew house building and (b) the Commission's wish to see the application of value added tax to new commercial property development, in the speech made by the Secretary of State for the Environment at the British Property Federation lunch on 15 May, represent Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people on youth training schemes in the Deeside travel-to-work area have left them to take up full employment since 1982.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him on 15 May at column 105, and to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 13 April, at column 434.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what percentages and actual numbers of houses in Wales were built (a) before 1955, (b) before 1945 and (c) before 1919.

At 31 December 1983, the estimated positon was as follows:

Numbers of dwellings by date of construction
Date constructed	Number of dwellings (thousands)	Percentage of all dwellings
Pre-1955	687	62·3
Pre-1945	594	53·9
Pre-1919	441	40·0

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many dwellings in Wales lack one or more of the basic amenities; and what percentage this is of the total housing stock in Wales.

The 1981 Welsh house condition survey indicated that 83,600 such dwellings existed representing 8 per cent. of the dwelling stock. These figures exclude second homes.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schools have been closed in Wales since January 1980.

Comprehensive information in the form requested is not available centrally. A figure for the total number of schools closed could in any event be misleading; many closures occur as part of wider schemes of reorganisation or amalgamations which incorporate the establishment of new schools. During the period January 1980 to September 1983 there was a net reduction of 116 schools in the maintained sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what action he is taking in view of the relocating of the firm of Merryweather in Plymouth following the grants received by that firm from his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Senior officials of my industry department have met the chairman and other representatives of the parent company, Siebe Gorman Holdings plc, to discuss the reasons for the proposed move of the Merryweather operation from Ebbw Vale to Plymouth and the financial implications of this in relation to the regional selective assistance made available by my Department. These discussions are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many persons are now employed (a) full-time and (b) part-time at the translation unit of his Department; and how this compares with the position in 1979;(2) on what basis fees are charged when the translation unit of his Department offers its services to private or commercial bodies; and what was the total recouped from such fees during 1983–84;(3) approximately how many letters were translated

I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the proportion of unemployed people in Wales who are currently registering as unemployed at local employment offices.

I shall reply to the hon. Gentleman as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress has been made with the urban development grant application in respect of the redevelopment of south Cardiff.

Initial examination of the urban development grant application in respect of the Tarmac proposals for comprehensive redevelopment in south Cardiff has now been completed. I am satisfied that the proposals are attractive and are worthy of further detailed consideration as to the level and terms of UDG support. Subject, therefore, to the appropriate statutory and legal procedures, the way is now open for the parties concerned to proceed with work on the development proposals while detailed negotiations take place on the grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list for each district council area (a) the average rateable value of domestic dwellings and (b) the average rate bill per domestic dwelling, before rebates of any kind, for each year since 1978.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will estimate the number of people employed in local government in Wales, both in actual numbers and in full-time equivalents; and if he will express both figures as a percentage of the total population.

I shall reply to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport what was the estimated cost of (a) road accidents and (b) rail accidents in Great Britain for the latest year in which these figures are available, broken down into (i) lost output, (ii) police and administration, (iii) medical and ambulance, (iv) damage to property and (v) allowance for loss in human terms.

There are no figures available for the cost of rail accidents in Great Britain.For road accidents, average cost per accident in 1982 is given in table R on page 17 of "Road Accidents Great Britain 1982", a copy of which is in the Library. Total costs, including a breakdown by cost element, are given in paragraph 11.4 on the same page.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, further to his answer to the hon. Member for Leyton on 15 May about road-widening plans at Greenham common air base, whether he will list the residents consulted; and why arrangements were not made for the residents of Greenham peace camp to be notified and consulted about the plans.

The local consultations which were held were not about the plans for either the works or the traffic regulations order. They were to discuss temporary access arrangements with those householders affected by the works.Notice of the Secretary of State's intention to make the traffic regulation order was published in the local newspaper on 15 March 1984 and subsequently also posted on site.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if Her Majesty's Government will take initiatives to resolve the conflicts between British and Soviet shipping companies concerned with liner and cargo trade; and if he will make a statement.

Shipping relations between the United Kingdom and the USSR are discussed each year at the Anglo-Soviet joint maritime commission.In the bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and the USSR, the United Kingdom Government have pressed for a more balanced level of carryings between British and Soviet vessels. Some progress has been made recently and negotiations are continuing.The Government have also sought reductions in the level of Soviet cruise ship activities in the British market. The USSR agreed to reduce its 1984 programme of cruises by about one quarter and further reductions for 1985 are presently being negotiated between the British and Soviet operators.In addition, each of the member states of the European Community contributes to a monitoring system concerning the activities of all eastern bloc shipping carrying general cargo on certain major routes serving the Community. Furthermore, Ministers responsible for shipping from Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom recently expressed grave concern about the activities of Soviet shipping in the liner trades between Europe and east Africa and the far east and stressed the need for Soviet shipping companies to reach an accommodation with the western European companies in these trades.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport how much electricity was consumed by motorway and trunk road lighting in each of the past five years; and at what cost.

The information requested will take a short while to assemble, so I shall write to my hon. Friend giving the data.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport whether he will now announce an increase in London taxi fares.

Yes. I have made an order increasing London taxi fares as follows, with effect from Sunday 17 June. The overall effect will be to increase fares by about 5 per cent. on average.The new tariff will incorporate a minimum fare of 80p—including an unchanged hiring charge of 40p—for the first 1,176 yards or four minutes. The rate will then be 20p for every 588 yards or 2 minutes up to six miles and 20p for each 392 yards or 1 minute and 20 seconds thereafter.There are a number of increases in extra charges; namely, an increase in the charge for each additional passenger from 15p to 20p and an increase in the luggage charge from 5p to 10p. I have also decided to bring the charge for hiring on new year's eve into line with the Christmas day charge and any hiring from 8 pm on 31 December to 6 am on 1 January will therefore attract an extra charge of £2.

asked the Secretary of State for Transport if he has received the report of the review of the lighthouse services; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I have received the report of the review, which was conducted by Messrs. Arthur Young McLelland Moores, and I have today placed a copy in the Library.The review was commissioned jointly by the three general lighthouse authorities and by my right hon. and noble Friend Lord Cockfield when Secretary of State for Trade. It was undertaken following criticisms made in the 29th Report of the Committee of Public Accounts in July 1982 (HC 438). The Committee endorsed criticisms made by the Comptroller and Auditor General and by the Lights Advisory Committee and called for a fundamental review of the lighthouse services.The report of the review is a thorough and workmanlike document. It makes a large number of recommendations designed to improve the management of the lighthouse services and to define more clearly my Department's role in the administration of the general lighthouse fund. It criticises the present structure of light dues, and draws attention to the fact that a number of the users of navigational aids, notably the Royal Navy, fishermen and yachtsmen make no contribution towards the cost of providing the aids. It suggests improved arrangements for consultation between the general lighthouse authorities and the users of the aids.As a first step, I am inviting views on the report's recommendations from the general lighthouse authorities, representatives of shipowners and port authorities, and from other interested parties. When I have received and considered their comments, I will make a further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the conclusions of the Council of Europe's fourth conference of European Ministers responsible for sport.

I represented the United Kingdom at the conference of European Ministers responsible for sport last week. The agenda was divided into three themes: development and promotion of sport for all; economic changes and sport; and European sports co-operation 1984 to 1987.A number of resolutions were adopted, all of which were acceptable to the United Kingdom. In particular, the conference endorsed the European anti-doping charter for sport which calls for concerted action to rid sport of drug abuse. This is one of the more intractable problems of sport today, and can only be treated by concerted international action. Another important agenda item was soccer spectator violence. I had a useful exchange with my colleagues, during which I explained how we in the United Kingdom implement the Council of Europe recommendation on spectator violence. I said:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings in England lack one or more of the basic amenities; and what percentage this is of the total housing stock in England.

The English house condition survey of 1981 showed that about 910,000 dwellings, or 5 per cent. of the total stock, lacked one or more of the basic amenities which are inside WC, fixed bath in a bathroom, wash basin, sink, and hot and cold water at those three points.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentages and actual numbers of houses in England were built (a) before 1955, (b) before 1945 and (c) before 1919.

The available information is as follows:

England stock of dwellings, December 1983
Date of construction	Number (millions)	Percentage of all
pre-1919	5·2	28
1919–1944	4·0	22
1945–1970	6·2	34
post-1970	3·0	16

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete his review of the urban programme in England.

My right hon. Friend expects the team conducting the urban policy and programme review to report by the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what study he has made of the resolution of the European Parliament against the continued dumping of radioactive wastes into the sea; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Most of the points made in the resolution refer to Community action, and the Government will of course respond appropriately to any proposals which the European Commission puts forward.As regards national action, many of the recommendations have already been implemented by the United Kingdom. The main point on radioactive waste is the wish expressed that, after 1 January 1984, no more radioactive waste should be directly discharged into the sea from nuclear power plants, such as the Windscale reactor. The Government are fully conscious of the concern about discharges from Sellafield and have already taken steps to reduce the levels of radionuclides released. The site operator, British Nuclear Fuels plc, also has in hand a major programme of investment costing over £100 million which will reduce radioactive emissions still further, and the Government are discussing more stringent authorisations with it. We shall also be considering whether yet further reductions should be sought in the longer term in the light of technological developments.The resolution also deals with the dumping of radioactive waste at sea. This question was discussed at the 1983 meeting of the London Dumping Convention which agreed to a United Kingdom proposal for an international review of the relevant scientific and technical evidence and also to a Spanish resolution calling for a voluntary suspension of sea dumping operations pending this review. The United Kingdom is playing a full part in the review, which is expected to report back to the next full meeting of the London Dumping Convention in 1985. At the national level, the Government and the Trades Union Congress have also set up a review of the dumping of radioactive waste in the north Atlantic, which is being chaired by Professor Fred Holliday. While this review is in progress, the Government have announced that they will not authorise any further sea dumping of radioactive waste.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what tests are carried out, and at what regularity, to ascertain the effects of radioactive effluent on marine life in the Irish sea;(2) if he will make a statement on the levels and effect of pollution in the Irish sea from chemical, radioactive and other effluents.

I have been asked to reply.Discharges of radioactive waste into the Irish sea take place in accordance with authorisations granted under the Radioactive Substances Act 1960. The discharges themselves and materials from the environment are regularly monitored both by the nuclear site operators and, independently, by the authorising Departments. The work carried out by my Department includes extensive analysis of samples of a wide variety of materials from the marine environment, including seawater, fish, shellfish, sediments and seaweed. The results are published annually in "Radioactivity in Surface and Coastal Waters of the British Isles", copies of which are placed in the Library of the House. The latest results, published last year, show that the amounts of radioactivity received by even the most exposed group of the population continued to be within the internationally recommended limits. My Department also monitors the levels of metals and organochlorines in the water, fish and shellfish from the Irish sea and has no evidence that these present a problem. Recent measures by the water authorities should in any case help to improve the situation substantially.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what checks are made by his Department on the proper expenditure by recipient countries of British overseas aid; and if he will make a statement.

I shall let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made to keep British companies informed of the potential commercial opportunities from the bilateral aid programme.

I have decided that we should make available to the export intelligence service of the British Overseas Trade Board lists of major aid financed projects under active consideration within Overseas Development Administration. This new service has now started.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what pledge of aid the United Kingdom made at the meeting of the World Bank consultative group on Zambia held on 22 to 24 May.

In support of the measures undertaken by the International Monetary Fund we have offered to provide a loan of £5·5 million for the purchase of British spares and raw materials to maintain productive activities in Zambia. Priority will be given to agriculture and to the needs of the private sector.The loan will be made in two instalments, and the administrative procedures will be similar to those in respect of the loan for £4·5 million which we made available last year. After a grace period of seven years, the loan will be repayable over 18 years at 2 per cent. interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet released the £28 million earmarked for the initial costs of establishing a commercial ship repair yard in Gibraltar.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet released the £28 million earmarked for the initial costs of establishing a commercial ship repair yard in Gibraltar.

I have notified the governor that the £28 million is now available for disbursement. The continuing flow of this aid will depend upon the maintenance of acceptable working practices.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will amend the instructions given in paragraphs L725, L734, L735, L846 and L1149 of his Department's legal aid instructions, the L code, so as to instruct officials not to pass information on legal aid applicants to officials not concerned with legal aid assessment.

My right hon. Friend has issued instructions that the authority for legal aid assessment officers to pass information to other officers for purposes not specified in section 22(1) of the Legal Aid Act 1974 has been suspended.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in view of the decision of a tribunal of commissioners in R(SB)26/82, local Department of Health and Social Security offices are still instructed to count unsupervised homework when deciding whether a claimant in the first three months on social security is studying for more than 15 hours a week; and if he will arrange for paragraph 1290(2) of the S manual to be amended to take account of that decision.

The content of paragraph 1290(2) of the S manual is now a matter for the chief adjudication officer whose guidance it contains. I understand that he does not intend to amend it at present.The decision of the tribunal of commissioners in R(SB)26/82 was a decision in the supplementary benefit legislation, with particular reference to the 21-hour rule.The guidance in S1290(2) relates to the child benefit legislation and gives guidance on when a young person is to be treated as receiving relevant education. I refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to him of 12 April, at column

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many schemes and houses Glasgow district council has applied to have designated as having electric heating systems which are disproportionately expensive to run; how many have been approved; how many have been rejected; and when decisions on the remaining applications will be announced.

Thirty-nine lists of properties with electric heating systems have been submitted by the Glasgow district council for consideration for desingation as disproportionately expensive to heat for the purposes of supplementary benefit estate rate heating additions. Seventeen certificates have been issued on behalf of my right hon. Friend designating a number of these properties, a small number have been refused, and further properties are under consideration on which a decision will he taken as soon as possible. I understand that the Glasgow district council estimates that a total of about 40,000 properties are included on the lists submitted for consideration that about 6,500 properties are covered by the certificates so far issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the specific terms of reference of the visit of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, the hon. Member for Oxford West and Abingdon (Mr. Patten) to Bolton on 5 June; whom he will be seeing; and if he will pay special regard to (a) additional allocations of money to deal with the environmental problems affecting health outlined in the Black report and (b) the commencement dates for the first phase of Bolton hospital.

Ministers visit health authorities in order to see the health service in operation and to hear at first hand of local needs and achievements. Those I hope to meet in Bolton on 5 June include the hon. Member for Bolton, South-East (Mr. Young) and my hon. Friends the Members for Bolton, North-East (Mr. Thurnham) and for Bolton, West (Mr. Sackville) and representatives of the district health authority and the community health council. It is for the regional health authority to decide, in the light of competing priorities, what resources to allocate to Bolton and when to begin the first phase of the redevelopment of Bolton general hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many (a) men and (b) women applied in each of the years from 1980 to 1983 for the domestic care allowance, sometimes called the private domestic needs allowance, the discretionary allowance that can be paid by local offices of his Department to disabled people on supplementary benefit; and how many and what percentages of these applications were successful.

The number of claimants in receipt of an additional requirement for domestic assistance An November in the years 1980 to 1982 is estimated as follows:

Year	Number
1980	4,000
1981	5,000
1982	4,000

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 1 December, Official Report, column 616, which surveys provided the figures for the incidence of glaucoma in the total population; and if he will give the separate figures for glaucoma in those aged over 40 years for each of the surveys.

The figure of 1 per cent. for the total population was derived from material supplied by the International Glaucoma Association. The other figures were quoted in a leading article in The Lancet on 27 August 1977. I am sending a copy of this article, which gives references to a number of individual surveys, to the right hon. Member. Study of the incidence of glaucoma has mostly been concentrated on those over 40, since the condition is uncommon in younger people.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 1 December, Official Report, column 616, whether his Department commissioned or carried our a cost-effectiveness study of glaucoma screening; what costs were considered; what was the involvement of the faculty of ophthalmologists; and if he will make a statement.

We have not commissioned nor carried out such a study. We keep in close touch with the Faculty of Ophtalmologists whose present view, as stated in my reply to the right hon. Member's earlier question, is that screening of the population at large would not be cost-effective.

Level of disregard needed at November 1984 on the basis of the assumptions in the question to give same real value as at date fixed*
	Present level of disregard	Date fixed at present level	Level of disregard needed at November 1984
	£		£
Capital:
for weekly benefit	3,000	November 1983	3,150
for single payments	500	November 1983	525
for single payments for voluntary repatriation	50	November 1975	124·48
surrender value of life insurance policies	1,500	November 1983	1,575
Earnings:
unemployed claimants	4	November 1980	5.24
single parents	4 plus half earnings from 4 to 20	November 1980	26·19
others	4	November 1975	9·96
Miscellaneous income (war and industrial pensions, charitable payments, etc.)	4	November 1975	9·96
Occasional gifts	100	November 1982	110·09
Educational maintenance allowances:
children at school	7·50	September 1979	11·55
young people at college	9.50	September 1979	14·62
Student grants/where student is a single parent or is disabled or is the partner of the claimant and has a dependent child	2	September 1976	4·47
* Measured by retail prices index to November 1983 and by assumed 5 per cent, increase in retail prices November 1983-November 1984.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, pursuant to his reply of 1 December, Official Report, column 617, what is the average annual cost to the National Health Service of operations for glaucoma.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to how much money, and on what basis, the European Parliament is considering making available to the South London hospital for women; and if, in the light of this, he will now reconsider his plans for the hospital's closure.

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the income disregards, capital limits and other specific sums mentioned in the supplementary benefits regulations, the dates at which these sums were fixed at their present level, and the amounts to which they would have to be raised in November 1984 to make good their loss of value since they were fixed at their present level, assuming 5 per cent. inflation in the year to November 1984.

The information requested in respect of resources which are partially disregarded under the Supplementary Benefit (Resources and Single Payments) Regulations is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in announcing the next supplementary benefit uprating, he will list those sums which are not being increased as well as those which are.

No. Supplementary benefit includes a large number of components. To include them all would make the schedule issued in the Official Report confusing and too lengthy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation has made in its investigation of the Japanese whooping cough vaccine; what form the investigation is taking; what preliminary or final conclusions have been reached; and if he will make a statement.

The committee has studied the only published information on this vaccine available in this country. This was contained in The Lancet on 21 January 1984, a copy of which is in the Library. A small quantity of the vaccine has been made available to the World Health Organisation for limited trials, and the committee has deferred further consideration until the results of these trials are known.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the client number and unit costs at 1983–84 prices for each category of personal social services which were assumed for the purposes of calculating grant-related expenditure assessments for 1983–84 in each of the London boroughs.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply on 18 May, at column 300, to a similar question from him. The same considerations apply for 1983–84—and other years—as for 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what would be the cost involved in supplying a free copy of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook to all local libraries;(2) if he will consider supplying a free copy of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook to any branch library which requested a copy;(3) how many copies of the current Supplementary Benefits Handbook were printed; and how many remain in Her Majesty's Stationery Office stock;(4) how many of the last issue of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook were pulped after publication of the current handbook.

[pursuant to his reply, 1 May 1984, c. 106–7]: Her Majesty's Stationery Office has roughly estimated that it would have cost DHSS in the region of £6,000 to have purchased sufficient copies of the 1983 edition of the Supplementary Benefits Handbook to enable copies to be provided free to all public libraries. We have no proposal to supply free copies to public libraries whether generally or on request. I can see no reason why public libraries should not purchase the handbook as they do other Government publications. I understand from HMSO that 11,000 copies of the 1982 edition were destroyed when the revised edition was published in 1983, a year earlier than had been anticipated. I understand that 28,000 copies of the 1983 edition were printed of which, taking into account current orders for copies, just over 2,000 are still in stock.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on how many occasions and for what purposes officers of his Department have passed information gathered for the purpose of determining an application for legal aid to other officers of his Department; what authority they have: and what instructions he proposes to issue in the light of any information being found to have been so passed.

[pursuant to his reply, 21 May 1984, c. 362]: No statistics are kept of the occasions when legal aid assessment officers. have alerted benefit officers a because there has been doubt concerning a claimant's entitlement to benefit. They have acted in accordance with the instructions and guidance issued by the Secretary of State. But the authority for legal aid assessment officers to pass such information to other officers for purposes not specified in section 22(1) of the Legal Aid Act 1974 has been suspended and instructions have been issued accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the statistics for claimants arid benefits as a result of the take-up campaign carried out by the Merseyside county council in 1983 for the offices of his Department at Belle V ale and St. Mary's road, Garston.

[pursuant to his reply, 24 May 1984, c. 509]: For the Belle Vale and Garston local offices the following information is available:

	Belle Vale	Garston
Total number of postcards received	1,211	1,181

	Belle Vale		Garston
Claims for weekly payments*	Awarded	No entitlement	Awarded	No entitlement
Pensioners	28	183	28	215
Unemployed claimants	2	45	3	39
Others	6	78	5	138
Total	36	306	36	392

Claims for single payments	Awarded†	Amount £	Awarded†	Amount £
Pensioners	79	3,303	47	1,543
Unemployed claimants	164	10,281	142	8,861
Others	127	8,116	80	5,473
Total	370	21,699	269	15,877
* Either claims for increase of benefits already in payment or new claims.
† Records are not kept of refusals of single payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, following the introduction of statutory rule 121 under section 51(1) of the Local Government (Northern Ireland) Act 1972, in what circumstances his Department will use the designation City of Londonderry.

On all occasions when reference is being made to the city itself; the statutory rule relates solely to the name of the local government administrative district.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list the total number of additional benefit payments made by the Department of Health and Social Services to claimants in the last 12 months for which figures are available and the total expenditure incurred from each Department of Health and Social Services office in the Antrim, East constituency and the highest number and cost of such payments to an individual applicant.

During the period 13 April 1983 to 10 April 1984 the number and value of single payments under the supplementary benefit scheme were as follows:

	Number	£
All social security offices in Northern Ireland	153,323	17,300,918

Benefit	Males Aged 65+	Females Aged 60+	Total	Date of Information
Retirement pension	68,716	130,064	198,780	30 November 1983
Non-contributoiy retirement pension	752	2,795	3,547	30 November 1983
Sickness benefit	45	25	70	31 May 1982
Invalidity pension	985	260	1,245	31 May 1982
Unemployment benefit	5	5	10	10 November 1983
Widow's benefit (excluding Widow's allowance)	—	1,811	1,811	30 November 1983
Widow's allowance	—	151	151	30 September 1982
Attendance allowance	3,192	7,670	10,862	5 January 1984
Invalid care allowance	6	19	25	23 February 1984
Mobility allowance*	449	1,102	1,551	31 March 1984
Non-contributoiy invalidity pension	305	885	1,190	31 May 1982
Injury benefit	—	5	5	31 May 1982
Industrial death benefit	—	366	366	31 December 1982
Supplementary pensions	Breakdown not readily available		53,579	14 February 1984
With regard to housing benefits, precise figures are not available, but it is estimated that some 83,300 persons over pension age were receiving housing benefits at 29 March 1984.
* Plus one male over 65 in receipt of a car.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of Northern Ireland's population is of retirement age.

Of the estimated population for 1983, 14·5 per cent. were of retirement age, this being taken as over 65 for men and over 60 for women.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will give details of the various increases in district heating charges since January 1980; and if he will make a statement as to whether tenants were given formal notice of all these increases in charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of elderly people in Northern Ireland by five-year age groups and sex.

Based on the Registrar General's mid-year population estimates for 1983, the information is as follows:

Age Group	Male	Female	Total
65–69	27,300	34,300	61,600
70–74	22,900	32,000	54,900
75–79	13,700	23,200	36,900
80–84	6,700	14,300	21,000
85+	3,400	9,400	12,800

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the numbers of elderly people receiving pensions, housing benefits and/or other benefits in Northern Ireland.

The numbers of elderly people—women aged over 60 and men aged over 65 years—receiving pensions and other benefits in Northern Ireland at the latest convenient dates are as follows:

The information is as follows:

Revised weekly pre·payment charge
Date	Percentage increase	1 person dwelling	5/6 person dwelling	8 person dwelling
		£	£	£
January 1980	—	2·82	6·08	6·89
April 1980	45·0	4·31	8·86	10·30
October 1980	11·5	4·81	9·88	11·48
April 1981	14·5	5·51	11·31	13·14
October 1981	15·0	6·34	13·01	15·11
October 1982	7·5	6·82	13·99	16·24

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the number of collieries that have either been partially or completely closed due to geological instability in mines caused through either inability to work the coal measures or due to insufficient maintenance.

This is a matter for the National Coal Board. I will ask the chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what was the total amount of electricity consumed in the United Kingdom in each of the past five years.

Electricity available for consumption, that is, from the public electricity supply industry and from industrial producers, in the United Kingdom for the latest five years was as follows:

	Million kilowatt hours
1979	278,736
1980	264,862
1981	258,743
1982	253,228
1983	255,854

The figures exclude electricity used by power stations for lighting auxiliary power or pumping.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he will make a statement about the meeting of the European Communities Council of Energy Ministers on 22 May.

I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting.The Council agreed that there should be a transfer of 60 mecu—£36 million—from the EEC budget in 1984 to the ECSC budget. This money will help to fund readaptation aid for the coal industry under article 56.2 (B) of the ECSC treaty and will be used to help meet the existing costs of assisting miners affected by fundamental changes in the coal industry. Officials from the Department of Energy will be meeting urgently with the European Commission to discuss prospective support for the United Kingdom. I expect the United Kingdom will receive about half of the funds transferred.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps he intends to take to ensure that miners who volunteered for redundancy do not lose their benefits under the redundant mineworkers payment scheme as a result of the present strike in the industry.

The Government have no desire to see miners who take redundancy penalised as a result of the strike. They therefore intend to introduce amendments to the redundant mineworkers' payments scheme to enable men whose scheme benefits are affected during the period of the dispute to receive additional payments designed broadly to compensate for. RMPS basic benefit and pension supplement lost. Such amendments are necessary' because under the existing order entitlement to weekly RMPS benefit is linked to eligibility for unemployment benefit so that a man who is ineligible for the latter also generally loses entitlement to the former. A mart's entitlement to lump sum benefit is not affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to a letter of 12 April about the policing of the mining dispute in Nottinghamshire from the hon. Member for Sedgefield.

I have asked the chief constable of Nottinghamshire for a report about some of the matters raised in the letter, to which I shall reply when I have received and considered the report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were (a) interviewed and (b) detained during a raid by police to apprehend immigrants then in breach of immigration control on 13 September at 134 Downham road, London N.1.; for how long those detained were held; what were the nationalities of those interviewed and those detained; how many people were deported under section 3(5) of the Immigration Act 1971 as a result of the raid; how many prosecutions were brought as a result; at what level the raid was authorised; whether the appropriate police community liaison officer was notified and consulted about the raid beforehand; whether the raid constituted a major joint operation as referred to in his answer to the hon. Member for Battersea (Mr. Dubs) on 30 March, Official Report, columns 305–6; and if he will list and indicate the total number of all other similar raids involving more than two police officers in the London borough of Islington designed to apprehend immigrants in breach of immigration regulations during the last two years.

On 13 December 1983 a visit to 134 Downham road was authorised by a chief immigration officer to apprehend the subject of a detention order made in connection with a notice of intention to deport who was reliably and correctly believed to be living at that address. The visit was not a "major joint operation", and the police community liaison officer was not consulted. In trying to find the person concerned it was necessary, because the house was in multi-occupation, to interview other people there. At that stage it became clear that others present were in breach of the immigration laws.Ten people, all Turkish nationals, were interviewed, of whom one was not detained.One person, who was suspected of having overstayed, was detained for five hours. She was released once information had been obtained from central Home Office records about her immigration status.Eight people were found to be in breach of the immigration laws, and dealt with as follows.Two people who had overstayed their leave were charged with offences under section 24(1) of the Immigration Act 1971. They were detained for two days before appearing in court, when they were granted bail. They subsequently left the country before their trial.One person who had overstayed his leave was charged under section 24(1). He was detained for two days before appearing in court when he was convicted and fined £10 with no recommendation for deportation.One person who had overstayed his leave and was charged with an offence under section 24(1) had the charge withdrawn when it was decided to initiate deportation action under section 3(5)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the amount of fines imposed by the courts in each of the last 10 years which remain unpaid, expressing this in real terms; and what steps he proposes to ensure that fines are paid.

The total amount of fines outstanding for payment for England and Wales, but excluding inner London, at the end of each March for the past 10 years rounded to the nearest £1,000 was as follows:

March	Cash	Cost terms equivalent*
	£000s	£000s
1974	10,437	36,227
1975	12,800	37,264
1976	17,819	41,267
1977	20,581	42,123
1978	22,126	39,809
1979	29,405	47,898
1980	30,877	43,047
1981	35,435	41,619
1982	38,421	41,052
1983	44,023	44,023
* To arrive at these figures the actual amounts outstanding (cash) have been adjusted by the deflator for gross domestic product at market prices, taking 1982–83 as the base year, to produce a cost terms equivalent. Cost term figures show the fines outstanding over the 10-year period adjusted for the effect of general inflation as measured by the GDP deflator for each of the Years shown.

An unknown proportion of these sums consists of fines in respect of which the time allowed for payment had not expired. Various powers are available to magistrates' courts for enforcing payment of fines. A circular has recently been sent to courts containing advice which will encourage the successful use of those powers. We are also examining what further measures might be desirable to assist in enforcement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, for the most recent 12-month period, how many cases of vehicles without current excise licences have been reported by the Metropolitan police; what is the force policy for enforcement; and what further steps are proposed for improved enforcement.

I understand that in 1983 approximately 363,000 cases of non-possession or non-display of a valid vehicle excise licence were reported by the Metropolitan police.I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the Metropolitan police report cases where a vehicle does not appear to have a valid vehicle excise licence to the London enforcement office of the Department of Transport. Further action is taken by that Department, except where the motorist is charged with other road traffic offences at the same time, in which case prosecution is undertaken by the police. In 1982, there were some 40 cases in the latter category.The Metropolitan police also co-operate with the Department of Transport in campaigns designed to detect and discourage evasion. Officials are examining the scope for improving vehicle excise duty enforcement in consultation with the Association of Chief Police Officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many stops were made in J district Metropolitan police in 1983 by police officers in Waltham Forest; how many arrests resulted; and if he will show the figures for each police station separately.

I understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information available is as given in the table.

Stops and resultant arrests in that part of J district of the Metropolitan police District which forms the London borough of Waltham Forest, 1983
Police station/area	Number* of stops of persons or vehicles	Number* of resultant arrests
Leyton	7,300	700
Leytonstone	1,900	100
Chingford	2,600	200
Waltham Abbey	900	†
Walthamstow	3,500	100
Total-London
Borough of Waltham Forest	16,200	1,100
* The figures are rounded (to the nearest 100) because they are based on information recorded in station registers for operational purposes and as this form of recording is unsuitable for the preparation of statistical summaries the resultant figures may be subject to some error.
† Denotes less than 50.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for speeding have taken place on each motorway in each of the last 10 years; and if he will break these figures down between drivers of lorries, buses and private cars.

No reliable information is available for specific types of vehicles or separately for each motorway. The available information on total findings of guilt for speed limit offences on motorways is published in table 4 of "Offences Relating to Motor Vehicles, Supplementary Tables 1982", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the average fine for speeding imposed by each magistrates bench in England in each of the last five years; and if he will break down the figures as between fines imposed upon (a) private motorists, (b) commercial drivers and (c) bus drivers.

The information available centrally does not separately identify different types of driver and could be provided for five years only at disproportionate cost. Some information is being prepared and I will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for entry into the United Kingdom from (i) husbands, (ii) male fiancés and (iii) wives in the Indian sub-continent were (a) decided and (b) refused in each year between 1973 and 1983, inclusive.

The information requested for 1977 to 1983 will be published next week in table 7 and 8 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom 1983" (Cmnd. 9246). Information for earlier years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) under what authority the passports of some black and Asian visitors, refused permission to land in the United Kingdom but admitted on a temporary basis and released, are retained at ports of entry;(2) under what authority some black and Asian visitors admitted to the United Kingdom are being required to sign undertakings that they will not remain in the United Kingdom.

My hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State will reply as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the length of time waited by an applicant in (a) the main queue and (b) any priority queues for entry clearance for settlement or as a husband or fiancé in Dacca, New Delhi, Bombay and Islamabad.

The information requested for waiting times at the end of 1983 will be published next week in table 5 of "Control of Immigration: Statistics, United Kingdom 1983" (Cmnd. 9246). The information for waiting times in the main queues at the end of March 1984 will also be published next week in table 6 of the Home Office statistical bulletin "Control of Immigration: Statistics, First Quarter 1984" (Issue 13/84).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what specific instructions are given to Metropolitan police officers to whom sub-machine guns are issued; what safeguards exist for the general public; and if he will make a statement.

The specific instructions given to officers issued with sub-machine guns would depend on the particular circumstances at the time. I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave on 4 April, at column 550, to a question from the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department makes any direct or indirect financial contribution to the National Council for Civil Liberties.

My Department makes no direct financial contribution to the National Council for Civil Liberties and makes no grants to other bodies in order to finance such contributions by them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) in the event of a possible radiation leak similar to that which was feared could have happened at Temple Mills, Leyton, railway yard on 12 April, what are the responsibilities of the fire service; and what it did during the 12 April incident;(2) in the event of a possible radiation leak similar to that which was feared could have happened at Temple Mills, Leyton, railway yard on 12 April, what are the responsibilities of the police; and what they did during the 12 April incident.

The first responsibility of the police is to control access to the area around the immediate source of a radiation leak, or possible leak. The primary responsibility of the fire brigade is to deal with any fire and its consequences. Guidance to chief officers of police and chief fire officers on action to take in the case of an incident involving the carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel was issued by the Home Office on 23 February 1983. A copy of this advice is in the Library of the House.I understand that this guidance was followed at this incident by both the police and the fire service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many house searches have been made of Mr. Chiedozie's home at 28 St. George's Avenue, Forest Gate, E.7; and how many police officers took part in the various searches;(2) why a search of his home was conducted whilst Mr. Chiedozie, of 28 St. George's Avenue, London E.7, was held at the police station; why his wife was not told of his whereabouts; why two pawn tickets and an expired Nigerian passport were retained; for how long they were retained; and what charges have since been brought against Mr. Chiedozie.

I have been informed by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that two searches were carried out at this address: the first by four police officers and the second by six.Mr. Chiedozie was not held by the police while the searches were carried out. He was not at home when the officers called on the first occasion and his wife informed them that he had gone to the police station in accordance with a condition of bail. Pawn tickets in Mr. Chiedozie's possession were retained so that the police could establish whether they related to stolen goods. They were taken from Mr. Chiedozie on 7 November 1983 and returned to him in January 1984. His passport was retained because a further condition of his bail is that Mr. Chiedozie's Nigerian passport be held by the police. I understand that no charges have been preferred as a result of the first search.Mr. Chiedozie was present during the second search of his home by the police. As a result of this search, charges have been brought against Mr. Chiedozie, and the case is therefore sub judice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Saleh Ibraham Mabruk, Abdul Ghadir Baghdadi, Matuq Mohd Matuq, Sarni Saleh Lataief and Abdul Al Razzaq took advantage of the opportunity to make representations to the panel of advisers referred to in paragraph 150 of the statement of changes in the Immigration Rules HC 169.

No. They all indicated in writing that they did not wish to make representations to the panel of advisers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police officers awarded punishments for disciplinary offences exercised their right of appeal to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis against the finding or punishment during 1983 or so far in 1984; and how many of such appeals were (a) dismissed, (b) allowed, (c) allowed in part and (d) resulted in a varied punishment.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis publishes this information each year in his annual report, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. His report for 1983 is due to be published next month, but, with the commissioner's permission, I can provide the information contained in it. Of the 38 appeals against finding or punishment lodged in 1983, 25 were heard during the year, together with six outstanding at the end of 1982. Of these 15 were dismissed, two were allowed against finding, six were allowed in part and punishment was varied in eight appeals.The equivalent figures for 1984 so far are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions for (a) careless and (b) reckless driving were brought against motorists for accidents involving cyclists in 1981, 1982 and 1983.

This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost since statistics are not collected centrally on the circumstances of offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost of the police presence at the polytechnic of North London at the Kentish town site.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that very little overtime has been incurred in the policing of the disorders at the polytechnic. The additional cost to public funds is therefore minimal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were deployed on 17 May and 22 May at the Polytechnic of North London, Kentish town building.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that some 250 officers were deployed on each occasion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested at the polytechnic of North London on 17 and 22 May; and what charges have been preferred against them.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis tells me that on 17 May, following an altercation between two journalists outside the polytechnic, one was arrested and charged with the use of threatening behaviour conducive to a breach of the peace. On 22 May, eight people were arrested; all were charged with the use of threatening behaviour and some with the offence of obstructing a police officer in the execution of his duty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much his Department has spent on advertising in national and local newspapers, on television and in other printed journals in each of the past five years; and what is budgeted in the current financial year for such advertising.

[pursuant to his reply, 8 May 1984, c. 278]: Expenditure on advertising by the Home Office in the past five years was as follows:

	Press	TV	Total
1979–80	2,204	698	2,902
1980–81	1,461	88	1,549
1981–82	795	964	1,759
1982–83	696	1,152	1,848
1983–84	524	2,166	2,690

The advertising budget for the current year is £4·1 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans the Greater Glasgow health board has for the number and disposition of acute beds in the Greater Glasgow health board area.

Active consideration is currently being given to the future disposition of acute beds in the Greater Glasgow health board area, but the health board itself has not yet reached any decision on its future plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate on the latest available information (a) the volume of milk currently produced in Scotland and (b) the volume which would be permitted under the new quota proposals of the European Economic Community.

For the 12 months prior to April 1984, milk production in Scotland is estimated at 1,440 million litres. Under the new arrangements, Scotland's allocation from the United Kingdom quota in 1984–85 will be 1,352 million litres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of social workers employed by local authorities in Scotland on 31 March for each year between 1978 and 1983 inclusive.

The numbers derived from the annual staff census in October are as follows:

Social workers employed in local authority social work departments (Full-time equivalents)
October	Numbers
1978	2,558
1979	2,714

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list by local authority those individual project applications under the urban programme in Scotland which were returned, indicating the projected capital and revenue implications for 1984–85.

The list of projects is lengthy. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member and placing two copies in the Libary of the House.If all the projects had been approved and expenditure incurred in the time scale proposed in the application forms, expenditure on these projects in 1984–85 would have amounted to about £11 million capital and £4 million current.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the outturn of the urban programme in Scotland for the year 1983–84.

Outturn figures for 1983–84 are not yet available. Provisional returns from local authorities, together with departmental records, suggest a figure in the region of £29 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if there has been a reallocation of the reduced sum in the urban programme for 1984–85.

Urban programme funds are allocated by grant offers on specific projects, and the question of reallocation does not therefore arise. The total amount of grant payable to any authority for expenditure in 1984–85 is the aggregate of all such relevant offers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had about the effect on areas of deprivation of the reduction in the allocation of the urban programme for 1984–85; and if he will review the allocations.

I have received representations from a number of hon. Members, local authorities, voluntary bodies and individuals expressing concern at the level of resources for the urban programme in 1984–85, and the resultant impact on particular new projects and those intended to benefit from them. I will keep under review the scope for approving expenditure in 1984–85 on new projects, which is now constrained principally by the amount of capital expenditure originally programmed for 1983–84 but which will in practice fall in 1984–85.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the possible involvement of the Manpower Services Commission in the provision of a sports centre or sporting facilities in Clermiston through the Wester Hailes agency.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 23 May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he proposes to help police authorities in Scotland to meet the extra costs of policing in connection with the miners' dispute.

The Government already pay police grant of 50 per cent. on all approved police expenditure, and the extra costs of policing in connection with the miners' dispute will continue to attract this assistance. In addition, I am prepared to pay a further 40 per cent. grant, in addition to the normal police grant, on that part of gross approved additional expenditure that exceeds the product of 0·67 of a penny rate for the area. This is the established equivalent figure for Scotland of the penny rate threshold that was announced on 11 May, at columns 483–84, by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department in relation to England and Wales.In addition, in any assessment of a local authority's liability for loss of grant under general abatement of grant in 1983–84 or 1984–85, I propose to disregard that part of an authority's expenditure arising from these additional policing costs.